Bath tub with reversible apron



July 8, 1958 D. P. PELICAN l2,841,795

BATH TUB WITH REVERSIBLE APRON Filed May 2, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 g. 9 2 omrziclf P. Pelicano INVENTOR. 36 50 4d e By w. www

July 8, 1958 D. P. PELlcANo BATH TUB WITH REVERSIBLE APRON 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 2, 1957 United States `Patent O BATH TUB WITH REVERSIBLE APRON Dominick P. Pelicano, Trenton, N. J.

Application May 2, 1957, Serial No. 656,626

1 Claim. (Cl. 4-173) This invention relates to bath tubs and particularly to built-in tubs having thin walls and a rectangular apron forming the frontal portion of the tub.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide a thin walled bath tub, which may be of either enameled iron or enameled pressed steel or the like, with a removable and reversible apron.

In modern installations it frequently happens that a customer for an iron or a steel tub desires to have the tub, proper, of one color and the apron of another color. Also in such installations the location for the installation, whether it be within a recess or in one corner of a bath room, may require either a right or a left hand tub with respect to the location of the faucets and drain connections. Moreover, it is sometimes necessary to remove a bath tub from a recess installation, because yof the accidental chipping of the enameled surface or for other reasons, and replace it with a new one. It is extremely diicult to remove from a recess a bath tub having an integral apron, because the only practical way to remove a tub from a recess is to upend it. Since a recess has a close fitting wall at each end the ends of the rectangular apron digs into the walls and prevents it from being upended.

Therefore one of the important advantages of a bath tub having a removable apron is tha-t a plumber, or dealer, may have in stock only one tub, for example, with a supply of attachable and reversible aprons in diierent colors and still be able to supply the desired tub, either with respect to color or with respect to right or left hand installation.

Another important advantage such a tub is that it can easily be removed from a recess and replaced with a new one, provided that the tub and apro-n be so constructed as to render the apron capable of removal without destroying the walls at the ends of the tub.

Accordingly, a further object of my invention is to provide a bath tub with a reversible apron which not only can be easily and quickly installed on the tub to provide the desired color and to accommodate a right or a left hand installation, in either a recess or a corner, but can also be easily and quickly removed from the tub while installed in a recess or elsewhere by means of simple tools, either for the purpose of removal of an old tub Ifor replacement or merely replacing the original apron with one of a different color or general design.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a thin walled bath tub with a reversible apron in which simple screwthreaded means of various types on the tub and apron may be used for attaching the apron to the tub in rigid but detachable relation in such a manner that the attaching elements are concealed from view.

Another object of the invention is to provide additional screwthreaded means on the inner wall of the apron in conjunction with supporting cross bars for the tub for more rigidly attaching the apron to the tub.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from ICC the following specification and reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective View of one embodiment of my improved bath tub with reversible apron in which some of the fastening elements are shown in broken lines;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the tub shown in Fig. l with the apron removed therefrom;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the apron shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view of the tub and apron shown in Fig. 1 taken through the upper and lower fastening elements;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view showing knockout means to provide holes in the anges of the tub;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of a part of the structure shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a detail view similar to a part of Fig. 6, but showing the upright rim perpendicular instead of at an obtuse angle with the surface of the tub flange;

Fig. 8 is a detail view showing another form of attaching elements; and

Fig. 9 is a detail view showing a similar form of attaching elements for the bottom of the apron.

Referring to the drawings, in which like numerals designate like parts or elements in the several views, 10 is a bath tub Iformed in accordance with my invention, made of enameled iron pressed steel, or the like, having identical outwardly projecting horizontal flanges 12 extending-along the upper edges of the side Walls 14 an'd end flanges 16 A lying in the same plane, these anges merging into upright rims 16 surrounding the entire perimeter of the horizontal flanges 12. Located in each of the` horizontal iianges 12 is a row of small circular grooves 18, as more clearly shown in Fig. 5, or scoring, the row extending parallel with and near the outer edge of the flange, which permits the central portions to be knocked out to form vertical holes 20. The enamel coating on the outer surface of the flanges 12 covers the circular grooves, so that they are not conspicuous before the central portions are knocked out. It should also be understood that the holes 20 may be drilled or otherwise formed in the flanges. Cross bars 22 are welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the bottom of the tub at the ends to provide a floor support for the tub. These cross bars may be made of inverted U-iron, as illustrated, or of angle iron with their thin edges arranged to rest on a floor. The bars project a substantial, uniform, distance on each side of the tub 10 and are provided near their ends with vertical holes 24.

An apron 26, which is of rectangular formation is inwardly turned at its top to form a canopy 28 of a suitable width to overhang one of the horizontal flanges 12, an it is then return bent to form a at base 30 underneath and spaced a short distance from the canopy The inner edge of the canopy substantially coincides with the inner surfaces of the side walls to provide a streamlined appearance. A row of studs 32 is rigidly secured to the underneath side of the base 30 in depending relation thereto and in relative positions for insertion through the holes 20 of either of the flanges 12. The studs are screwthreaded at their free ends and provided with nuts 34 by means of which the flange 12 and the apron base 30 are clamped together in rigid but detachable relation.

Brackets 36 are rigidly secured to the inner wall of the apron 26 in relative horizontal positions to coincide with the cross bars on the tub, A stud 33 is rigidly secured to the underneath side of each of the brackets 36 in depending relation thereto and in relative position for insertion through one of the holes 24 in the cross bars 22. The studs are screwthreaded at their free ends and are provided with nuts 40 by means of which `the brackets 36 are rigidly but detachably clamped to the cross bars 22. To ensure free Contact of the apron base 3i) with f inserting the studs 32 through the holes 2t? in the correct horizontal flange 12 and the studs 3S through the holes 24 in the correct ends of the cross bars 22 and tightening the nuts 34 and 40 against the tlange 12 and cross bar 22 respectively. That leaves the opposite side of the tub free for the usual side wall installation including the cement 44 and the tile which tits inside the upright rim 16, as shown. As previously mentioned, the plumber may select a special color or design of an apron from his stock for installation on the tub, as desired by his customer. Since the studs 32 and 3S are not in vertical alignment with one another it is also a simple and easy operation to unscrew the nuts 34 and 40 and remove the apron from the tub, so that a chipped tub can be upended and removed from a recess and replaced with a new onel without damage to the recess walls, which is impossible with a tub having an integral apron. It is also easy to replace a chipped apron with a new one in any desired color or design.

As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the holes in the base 3i) and the ybrackets 36 may be screwthreaded, and headed screws 48 and S0 inserted upwardly as substitutes for the studs 32 and 38. Also, as shown in Fig. 7 the upright rims 16a may be made perpendicular to the surfaces of the anges 12 instead of at an angle as shown in other views.

Obviously, various other modications, or changes in the construction and arrangement of parts of my improved bath tub with reversible apron may be made within the spirit and scope of my invention. Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments of my invention shown and described are intended to be illustrative only, and not restricted to the specific construction shown.

I claim:

In combination with a bath tub having flat horizontal portions extending along the outer upper edges of its opposite sides and having upstanding anges extending along the outer edges of said dat horizontal portions, a thin walled apron member laterally bent longitudinally into a continuous formation comprisinga flat base portion adapted for seating on either of the flat horizontal portions of the tub, a canopy extending from one edge of said base portion over and spaced above said base portion at a suicient height to clear either of said upstanding tub flanges, and. an apron portion depending from the opposite edge of said canopy; and coengaging means on said apron and tub for rigidly, but detachably, mounting said apron member on either side of said tub.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,269,748 Widman Ian. 13, 1942 2,305,846 Coordes Dec. 22, 1942 2,427,375 Walker et al Sept. 16, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS 562,587 Great Britain July 7, 1944 

